Nut-lock



J. T. CLARK.

No. 386,624. Patented July 24, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. CLARK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,624, dated July 24,1888.

Application filed October 10,1887. Serial No. 252,821. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs T. CLARK, of Denver, in the county of Arapahoeand State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Nut-Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in nut-locks of thatclass in which the nut is locked on the threaded portion of a screw'boltby means of a spring-key which sets in a longitudinal groove in the boltand engages the nut when screwed home;- and the object of the presentinvention is to so construct the spring-key that it may be readilyinserted in its seat, and when there cannot be pulled out or beaccidentally removed by jars, shocks, or otherwise, unless the key bebroken, and also to protect the outer end of the key when in place fromaccidental or other injury, as more fully hereinafter described.

The above-mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinalsectional view of a bolt and nut taken on the line as x of Fig. 4, withthe springkey in position locking the nut. Fig. 2 represents a similarview with the outer end of the spring-key bent down to release the nut,so as to turn the same off the bolt or tighten it up on the same. Fig.Sis a longitudinal section showing the key partially inserted. Fig. 4represents an end view or front face view of the nut and bolt with thenut locked thereon. Fig. 5 repre sents a longitudinal sectional view ofa bolt and nut taken on the line yy, Fig. 9, and showing a nut ofslightly-modified form. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the spring-keyin position just before locking the nut. Fig. 7 represents a sideelevation of the spring-key. Fig. 8 represents a top view thereof. Fig.9 represents a front or end view of the bolt and nut, showing themodified form of the nut. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the keyemployed in connection with the modified nut, and Fig. 11 represents atop View thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates a bolt of the ordinarydescription, having a longitudinal groove, a, entering the entire lengthof the screw-threaded portion and slightly beyond it into the plainportion of said bolt.

B indicates the nut, which is provided with the usual internalscrew-thread, so as to fit over the threaded portion of the bolt in theordinary manner. The outer face of the nut, immediately around theaperture in the same, is provided with a series of recesses, c, toengage the outer end of the spring-key to lock the nut on the bolt, asmore fully hereinafter explained.

The letter 0 indicates the spring-key. The said key consists of a shortpiece of elastic metal, ofsuitable shape in cross-section, beingpreferably fiat, as shown in the drawings. One end of said key is benton a short curve upward and backward upon itself, as indicated at c, andthen upward again, as indicated by the letter 0 in the drawings, for thepurpose hereinafter explained. The other end of the key is bent upwardat an angle, as shown in the respective figures of the drawings.

The recesses in the face of the nut, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ofthe drawings, are in clined and flush with the face of the nut, but asshown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9 are between the lugs c surrounding theaperture in the nut. In this case the nut is not weakened by cuttingaway its body, and the outer end of the key, which sets between thelugs, is protected thereby from accidental injury.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The nut is placed upon thebolt and screwed home, as usual, and when tight up to its seat the keyis pushed into the slot until it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1,4, 5, and 9, the outer end engaging one of the recesses c. It is obviousthat in this position it will hold the nut from turning upon the bolt,firmly looking it in place. In this position theinner bent end, a, ofthe key sets into the thread in the nut, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and6, in such position as to prevent it from being withdrawn by main force,unless the portion a of the key be broken, and unless this portion isbroken off any outward pull on the key will cause end 0 thereof to bindupon the angular face of the adjoining thread more firmly, as greaterstrain is exerted to withdraw the key, as will be obvious from saidfigures. To remove the nut, the outer end of the key is depressed, so asto clear the recess in the nut, when the nut can be turned off over thekey with ease. It will thus be seen that it is simply impossible for thenut to become accidentally removed by any'shock or jar, as the nut isabsolutely held from turning so long as the outer end of the key remainsin its recess, and'that the key cannot designedly be removed by mainforce so long as the inner end of the key remains un broken, thusrendering the nut comparatively secure against mischievous orevil-designed persons.

I am aware that lock-nuts have heretofore been devised, in which the nutis held in place by a spring-key engaging recesses at each end of thenut and located in a longitudinal groove in the boltsuch, for instance,as is shown in Patent No. 329,861, dated November 3, 1885; but in suchdevices the key has been bent simply upward at its inner end, so thatthe inclined portion binds against the inner recess of the nut and notagainst the threads thereof. In such cases the nut is not heldpositively, as in the present case, and the key can readily be drawnout, besides being liable to be shaken out or otherwise accidentallydisplaced.

Having thus fully described my invention, 6; what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described nut-lock, consisting of a bolt having alongitudinal groove in its threaded portion, and a screw-threaded nut 35fitting on said bolt, having a series of radial recesses in its outerface, in combination with a spring-key placed in the groove of the boltunder the nut, and having its outer end bent upward for engagingwith oneof the recesses 0 of the nut and its inner end curved upward andbackward upon itself, so that it will yield and pass under the threadsof the nut when the key is being inserted, but will positively bite orengage against the inner face of one of 5 the nut-threads and preventits retraction, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two 50 witnesses.

JAMES T. CLARK.

. WVitnesses:

F. B. SEMPLE, W. D. RECTOR.

